Over the past year commercial real estate has been following the steady declines seen in residential real estate. This can be seen by looking no further than the fact that prices are down nearly 40% from 2007 and office vacancies have increased by 5% in 2009 alone. However, residential real estate has slowly began turning around, this has caused many investors and analysts to wonder if commercial real estate will stabilize in 2010.

Changing Times, Changing World:
According to a survey conducted by Grub and Ellis, commercial real estate is expected to decline by another 10% to 20%. At which point, the markets will go into the stage of flat lining, this is where prices will not decrease or increase rapidly. This is contrary to what some have been prognosticating for commercial real estate, with it often being called the next shoe to drop. However, according to the Grubb and Ellis survey, when you look at the actual values of the commercial real estate mortgage portfolio at various banks, it is clear that their values are significantly higher in spite of seeing sharp price declines last year.

Vacancies:
Nationwide Grubb and Ellis expect vacancies to decline even more, with the total amount reaching 18.5% to 19.0%. This is the highest number on record since the firm began conducting the survey in 1986. When you look at the different sectors of commercial real estate it is clear that the decline will be felt in all areas. This can be seen with industrial sector expected to post vacancy rates of 11.4%, while retail is expected to continue to remain weak. These different rising vacancies have meant that many landlords are unable to make their mortgage payments, leading to a rise in foreclosures of commercial real estate. A good example of this would be the Hancock Tower of Boston which is facing foreclosure because of rising vacancies.

What This Means for Boston Real Estate?
When you look at what the different figures mean for Boston, it is clear that the city’s commercial real estate market will face a mixed recovery of starts and stops. A good example of this can be seen with the predictions for Boston commercial property vacancies, as offices are expected to see a 14.2% increase and 16.2% in industrial.

What all of this shows, is that 2010 Boston commercial real estate will face downward pressure as rising vacancies fuel foreclosures. However, towards the end of year is when a recovery is expected in these markets as commercial real estate works through similar challenges as residential.

People looking to sell a house have a reason to cheer about statistics that were released regarding November real estate sales. An annualized rate of 6.54 million units was sold in November. This is an increase of 7.4% from October numbers. Even bigger, it is an increase of 45.4% from the number of units sold a year ago.

This number was a surprise to the experts. The forecast had been for November to have an annualized rate of 6.25 million units sold. The actual results surpassed that figure by over a quarter of a million units.

Home buyers snatched up these units because of many factors. Likely, the biggest factor is the home buying credit offered by the federal government. First time home buyers qualify for up to an $8,000 tax credit. In addition, the program has been expanded to include people who already own a home. These repeat buyers can now qualify for up to a $6,500 tax credit when they purchase a new home.

Even though both first time buyers and repeat buyers are to credit for the growth of home sales, first time buyers deserve more of the credit. Normally, first time home buyers account for 40% of home purchases. However, in November they were responsible for 51% of home sales.

All of this news is encouraging to people looking to sell a house. The federal government’s home buying program is having its desired effect to counteract the mortgage crisis and propel housing sales, especially among first time buyers.

Another factor propelling the increase in housing sales is a drop in interest rates. A year ago the average for a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage was 6.09%. In October it was 4.95%. November saw the rate fall all the way to 4.88%. This is a significant decrease that has helped to spur the rise in home buyers.

Even though all of this positive news is something people looking to sell a house are cheering about, they do have a vast market to compete with. There are an estimated 19.62 million houses for sale nationwide. That is a supply that would last for three years of sales at November’s rate of sales, if no new houses were to be built.

Another factor worrying to people looking to sell a house is the so-called “shadow inventory.” These are houses owned by banks and mortgage companies that have not yet been put up for sale. It is estimated that there are 1.7 million houses in this shadow inventory. For any home sellers thinking how can I sell my house this shadow invintory definitly will have an affect.

Okay, the real estate market has gone down and a quick rebound is not likely, or possible. Homeowners are finding viable options to continue to make money in the real estate market despite the recent changes.

By adapting to the environment, savvy real estate investors are still flipping home properties with a twist. They are purchasing lower cost single family houses in areas of great potential and updating them. However, rather than putting them on the market for sale right away, these flippers are becoming landlords, renting the property to keep building equity and pay the mortgages.

How long are these new landlords renting their flipped houses for? On average, the versatile businesses are renting as long as five years or as short as only two until they can find a home buyer. They are keeping the cash from the rented properties in the short term, but are banking on the idea that an improved real estate market in the future will help them get the profits they are aiming for years down the road. Of course, this type of stalled profitability attracts a limited number of former flippers, but it is an increasing option for real estate investors.

One of the keys to success with the flip and rent strategy is to avoiding subdivisions. Typically, the targeted houses are no more than $80,000 to $90,000 and will be victims of a crashing real estate market whose values were vastly higher even a year ago. These homes need upgrades and improvements that many future homeowners shy away from. By improving these houses and then renting them, these flipping real estate investors are actually playing a role in improving the market by rescuing and improving homes whose needed changes might have been outside the scope of many property owners. Neighborhoods might have suffered with these eyesores in the past, but they are now able to enjoy an improved property in their surroundings, thanks to the flippers.

Many of the houses that are chosen for these investment and rental properties are selected if they fit a particular set of requirements. For example, many of these homes are victim of the boom and bust cycle of the recent real estate market. Their overestimated home value has wrecked havoc on the market and neighborhood in general, so this financial investment can be a great choice for both the individual investor and neighborhood alike. Also, there are specific location, price and physical criteria that many investing business will choose before they will purchase the soon to be rental property.

To find many of the houses these real estate investors purchase they use companies who privide real estate leads. The real estate leads consist of contact information from how owners who want or need to sell their house. Many of the home owners who ask to be contacted by a real estate professional are motivated to sell their home quickly.

This smart investment plan can be a great way to improve neighborhoods and allow individual real estate investors to gain capital and long term equity in a stalled and shaky real estate market. Although typically known as risk takers, these particular flipping companies are making long term, calculated investments that should pay off in the future.

If you are a home owner and are in a financial situation and thinking how can I sell my house fast, a good place to receive an offer on your house is your local home buyer or investor. There are real estate investors in every major real estate market who purchase homes quickly from home owners who need to sell. Many of the homes are in foreclosure, the owners are transferring out of the area, or the owners just need to move quickly.

One way to determine if the state of our economy is improving is by monitoring foreclosure rates. Foreclosure rates across the country vary in different regions.

Foreclosures can signal a huge change in the real estate market. While they can be hot deals for buyers looking to purchase large properties at a fraction of their valued cost, the impact foreclosures have on the market overall can be a highly negative one. Foreclosed homes are typically in disrepair and a crumbling mess long before the bank steps in to take over. In addition, selling a home that is highly undervalued will undercut overall price comparisons in the neighborhood, which devalues numerous homes in its wake.

As the economy continues to decline, the number of foreclosed homes continues to grow. While some analysts will tell you that the foreclosed homes and sluggish real estate market are signs that the real estate bubble is simply righting itself after years of a bubble inflated industry, homeowners with nearby foreclosed homes in their neighborhood and the victims themselves will often feel at a loss on how to control the negative spin.

Overall, 1.9 million homes have recently gone into foreclosure across the county. The average sale on these foreclosed homes is roughly $172,000. Of course, this number reflects both large and small properties alike, as well as homes whose owners had been paying their mortgages on time for years before the economic downturn made paying their mortgage payments more difficult.

What are the biggest markets for foreclosures across the nation? Is your state one of the areas experiencing the highest rates of foreclosure? Consult this list of states that experience high foreclosures to see if your state is one of the most affected areas:

California tops the list at over 92,000 foreclosures. Meanwhile, Florida runs in second place with nearly 59,000 foreclosures. Nevada, Arizona and Michigan each have roughly 15,000 foreclosures, while Ohio, Illinois, Georgia and Texas has approximately 10,000 foreclosures. Virginia ends the list with just over 5,000 foreclosed homes.

Foreclosed homes aren’t limited to a specific economic bracket, either. Every neighborhood has become vulnerable, including high end homes in desirable neighborhoods. Many analysts blame adjustable rate mortgages or no doc loans as a major cause of the increased foreclosures. Since these no doc loans don’t require verification of the borrowers’ income, they pose a much higher risk than other traditional forms of home loans.

The top five states California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan constitute the greatest percentage of the nations foreclosures in June. As the market restructures and the economy continues to adjust to financial changes, expect the rate of foreclosed homes to decease slowly over time.

After all, foreclosed homes put pressure on financial institutions to stop lending to anyone with a potentially risky financial profile. For this reason, even secure homeowners cannot sell their homes as new buyers are unable to obtain the funds they need to purchase new property on the market.

If you need are in a situation where you are thinking how can I sell my house fast, I suggest contacting a local home buying expert in your area. Local home buying experts exist in every major city in the United States. Many times these home buyers can purchase homes quickly so you can move on with your life.

With the existing home inventory index still hovering around 10 months of supply for the nation, every home owner who needs to sell their house should be ready for buyers. In an effort to get you ready for the buyers who will be walking through your doors I suggest you do some research and follow some key tips to get your home sold.

Pricing your home right is a key factor is selling your home in a buyers market, which we are in. The days of posting a sign in your front yard and receiving multiple offers in a few days are over. Home sellers need to recognize that home buyers are shopping and comparing houses to find the best deal.

Take your time in doing some research and find the best reasonable sale price for your home. You should go walk through other houses close to yours that are similar and compare the finished to yours. Make sure to check look at the price per square foot and the overall asking price.

Another great way to get a value for your house is to ask a real estate agent or a local real estate investor in your area. These professionals are following the local real estate market on a daily basis and have great insight to how much a house is worth in todays market. You know you priced your home right if you would consider looking at the home based just on the price, quantity of bedrooms, and square footage, when comparing to other homes in your neighborhood.

Your home should be in excellent condition to sell in this buyer market. If you truly want to sell your home time the time to fix all the miscellaneous repairs that you know need to be fixed. Take a tour through your attic and crawl space to double check for moisture damage and fallen insulation. Take color photos of your crawl space and attic to you can show potential home buyers the great quality of home they are getting. This goes above and beyond what other home owners are doing.

If you can not afford to fix up your home for sale then you will have to price your house accordingly. In todays real estate marketing home buyers have many choices of homes, even brand new ones that home builders are selling at a discount. It is possible to sell your home as a fixer upper but you will not net as much money at the closing table.

Marketing your home for sale is one of the key pieces in selling your home. After all you could have all the other things perfect and if no one new your home was for sale then it would never sell. Make sure to put a sign on the property and on close streets to the property. Make sure to list your property on classified websites like Craiglist, and Backpage. Make sure to put your home in for sale by owner magazines or newspapers where home buyers will be looking.

Many of the homes that are selling right now are to first time home buyers. In fact over 53 percent of the homes sold in May were sold to first time home buyers. The federal government is giving an $8,000 tax credit to first time home buyers or people who have not owned a home in that last 3 years. This is having a great affect on the homes that are selling. If your home is in the first time home buyer range you have a much better chance of selling your house.

If you are thinking how can I sell my house fast then contact your local home buyer in your area. They will give you a quick fair offer and you have no obligation to accept.

To solve the housing crisis and try to get Americans to believe in the American dream of home ownership president Obama has implemented a $75 billion dollar Mortgage Loan Modification program. This program is estimated to help some 7 to 9 million Americans save their house from foreclosure.

Since the peak of the real estate market in the summer of 2005 thousands of Americans have lost their home. Even more are struggling to make their mortgage payments each and every month. The two basic reasons are that their mortgage is now more than is used to be or that home owners are now making less income each month.

If you are finding it hard to make your mortgage payments, now is the time to take advantage of this new loan modification opportunity. The president has set up this program for regular Americans to act and stop from loosing their home. Even if you are not behind on your mortgage payment this program can help to lower your mortgage.

Whats more is the mortgage loan modification program is free. You do not have to pay anyone to take advantage of this government backed service. So how is this program being paid for, with tax dollars from every American. The Presidents plan is to subsidize mortgage payment for home owners struggling to make their montage. This in affect with stabilize the housing market and stop the real estate down spiral.

There are a couple way’s the program works to lower your mortgage payments. The first option is for the government to lower the interest on your home loan so you are not paying more than 31 percent of your gross monthly income. If lowering the interest rates does not lower the mortgage payment enough then the government will actually reduce the principal on your loan or extend the length of your loan which will lower the payment.

The main reason people need to act fast and try to get their mortgage loan modifiedis because there is only $75 billion dollars in this government program. The total housing decrease is estimate at over $1 trillion dollars. Simple math will tell you the money in this program will go quick as many people need it.

Because the loan modification program is free, americans have nothing to loose by trying. The best situation is that you get your monthly house payment lowered to a more reasonable amount. The worst that can happen is that you don’t qualify to get your mortgage lowered.

If you have been holding your breath until you see real action by the government to halt the real estate crisis and turn back time, you may be able to breath once again. The current stimulus bill proposed by the Senate raises the $7,500 tax credit to $15,000. Unlike the House proposal, that all the tax credit taken would need to be repaid via a interest free loan, this time the money is not required to be paid back.

Another great thing is this time the tax credit can be spread over two years of taxes. So if you did not receive the full benefits of the $15,000 credit the first year you can have your accountant account for the rest the next year.

This is great news for home buyers waiting to see a reason to buy in this turbulent real estate market. Many home buyers in all areas across the nation have been reluctant to purchase a home when they are confident home prices will continue to drop. This could be the change the real estate market has been waiting for.

This tax credit is proposed to reduce the inventory of homes for sale on the market and try to get supply and demand back in line with one another. The government has tried other avenues to try to spur home buyers to purchase homes but none of the plans thus far have had a noticeable affect.

It should be noted the bill has few restrictions on receiving the tax credit. Some economists are skeptical because it is possible two separate home owners could sell each other homes for $1 each, and receive the $15,000 tax credit. We should all home the details for receiving the tax credit will be more stringent so people will not take advantage of our tax dollars at work.

We should also hope this is the moment real estate professionals, home owners and home buyers looking for a new home have been waiting for. Any decrease in supply will stabilize home prices. Once home prices stabilize we may once again see our homes value increase. It is a fact that when home values increase, the regular economy is more vibrant because people spend more money.

If you need to sell your house fast we suggest receiving a free, confidential, no-obligation offer from a local home buyer in your area. It is free and you have no obligation to accept.